As a deadline looms for sequestration in March, so too do cutbacks in defense spending that could include furloughs for some China Lake employees.

According to reports, 800,000 defense employees could be furloughed starting in March depending what action Congress takes with sequestration, which is scheduled to take effect March 1 with $85 billion in cuts. Those cuts would be automatically triggered if a deficit reduction deal isn't reached.

Locally, fears are rising over what this could mean for the paychecks of the individuals who could be affected and what this could mean economically for the community.

Because the talk of furloughs are contingent on sequestration kicking in, Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake command didn't want to speculate about such cutbacks.

In a release, NAWS Commanding Officer Capt. Dennis Lazar said the base is waiting on guidance from the Department of Defense.

"This is not a decision being made at the local or regional level," Capt. Lazar said. "The furlough decision is being made by the Secretary of Defense. We are keeping a close watch on what is happening and preparing for any contingency."

Rear Adm. Paul Sohl, Commander, Naval Air Warfare Center, Weapons Division, echoed what Capt. Lazar said, noting that NAWCWD will be ready to react to any order that came down.

"As we await direction from the (Office of the Secretary of Defense) on the nature and timing of that possibility, the Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division (NAWCWD) continues its job of ensuring that our Sailors and Marines are prepared, capable, and safe as they execute national tasking," Rear Adm. Sohl.

Should sequestration go into affect, Rear Adm. Sohl said NAWCWD will continue its goal of supporting the overall mission.

"Despite the current financial challenges, NAWCWD remains focused on supporting the warfighter," Rear Adm. Sohl said. "NAWCWD and Naval Air Systems Command leadership is actively engaged and doing everything in its power to articulate potential impacts to higher Navy and ensure plans are in place to execute whatever direction is received — with the least possible impact on our people, programs and mission."

He added that any furloughs will not affect uniform personnel.

"We do know that military personnel would be excluded from a furlough. NAVAIR/NAWCWD does not furlough contractor personnel. Any changes to contractor work schedules would be made by company management and negotiated via existing contract vehicles," Rear Adm. Sohl said.

The military for some time now has been operating under a continuing resolution from Congress in lieu of a real budget. This has forced some tough decisions on budgets, especially at China Lake.

The result has been felt tangibly in Ridgecrest through a draw down in travelers.

Local leaders are cautiously awaiting what happens with sequestration, but are also faced with a dwindling source of outside revenue that come when people check in to hotels, eat at restaurants and shop a local stores.

Page 2 of 3 - "The impact of a possible sequestration will only magnify what has already become a problem and that is businesses and average citizens are holding onto their dollars and delaying hiring and/or purchases that they might otherwise make," said Ridgecrest Vice Mayor Chip Holloway. "The stagnation was in place before the Presidential election and the outcome did nothing to eliminate concerns, it became clear quickly that the fiscal cliff issue was not resolved so we have not come out of the defensive posture so many Americans assumed long ago."

Ridgecrest Chamber of Commerce CEO Nathan Ahle said the answer is going to have to be a long-term solution of attracting new industry to the Indian Wells Valley so the area isn't as affected by downturns in defense spending.

"It's scary, but it shows what we've said for years: Ridgecrest has to diversify its economic base," Ahle said. "We need more in the community than just the Navy."

He was careful to point out that any new industry cannot get in the way of the Navy's mission.

"We need to bring in industry compatible with the base, but in the private sector," Ahle said.

If local workers are furloughed, it will mean 20 percent less income for them to use to save for the future or to make purchases that can benefit the local economy.

"We see cuts everywhere. A lot of places are tightening their belts, but not a lot of households have 20 percent to cut out of their budgets," Ahle said.

The hotel industry is going to be hardest hit from any cutback, and will likely see a reduction in visitors drop as spending will be reduced across the board in the government sector.

Ridgecrest Area Convention and Visitors Bureau Director Doug Lueck said the task is going to fall on him and others in the local travel industry to help diversify the kinds of people who come into Ridgecrest.

He said hotels in town shouldn't have to shutter its doors if there is an atmosphere of cooperation.

"I don't think anyone knows for sure what will happen," Lueck said. "I hope we won't lose any hotels. We need to figure out how to work together to get enough revenue."

Lueck is also awaiting to see what will happen now that the hotels have agreed to a Tourism Improvement District, which raised hotel tax rates.

The TOT money is going to be lower for both the city and the TID, which could be down 20 to 30 percent from projections.

Ridgecrest Mayor Dan Clark said the city has some hard decisions facing it as a result of the turn down. He said one aspect of those decisions is going to have to be keeping costs down rather than just cutting.

Page 3 of 3 - "The model of cut, cut, cut is not going to work anymore," Clark said. "At some point, we need to change to managing costs in the end."

SpringHill Suites Manager Dan Spurgeon said he has seen a draw down in Navy travel, and it has been that way since September. But he is still seeing people coming to Ridgecrest to work on base.

"The Navy has pulled back hard and is waiting to see what happens with sequestration," Spurgeon said.

Ahle did have a bit of optimism, and that was the government still has more than two weeks to get something done.

"Sequestration is not a done deal," Ahle said. "We don't know what will happen."